Ersatz TLS discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Weekly TLS
>
What are we reading? 26th July 2021
Berkley wrote: If Zweig's Dickens is anything like as spellbinding as those, I look forward to reading it, inaccurate though it may be!Zweig gave Dostojewski the lion's share of the book (95/158pp)
It is quite clear from the outset how much he adored him. Leading to a large degree of mystification. And much over-egging in the writing.
Dickens is treated completely differently. There is a passage on his childhood, but thats about all the personal stuff you get.
There was some discussion on the RG about Zweig/Dickens, if you're interested (almost at the top of page 1)
https://www.theguardian.com/books/boo...
The English translation reigned in some of Zweigs occasional "flowery" language. Not a bad thing in my personal view. I got stuck about 20 pages in with Dostojewski. Maybe I should read it in English....
Bill wrote: "scarletnoir wrote: "I'd hardly recommend 'Metamorphosis' as summer reading! But I don't really do 'summer reading' either."I assumed @Hushpuppy meant Metamorphoses.
[bookcover:Metamor..."
Haha! very possibly... I thought you might also be tempted by AB's 'Editions du Minuet'....
Lljones wrote: "Wish me luck for tomorrow, everyone. I have to report for jury duty at 7:00 am. Somehow I've managed to avoid this before: I've only received the summons twice, and both times I was involved in som..."Well, the best of luck - I do hope you don't have any conditions which put you at more than usual risk, that everyone will be masked and double-jabbed, and that there will be good ventilation...
In passing - the grand jury system has been savagely attacked in at least two fictional TV episodes I've seen, many years apart. Those outside the US probably don't understand it well - I certainly don't. Is it really a sort of kangaroo court, or an unjust system? Or does it have good points as well as bad? (I don't recall the detail of why the writers of those stories hated it so much...)
@Mach - a quick look at my shelves unearthed a few Picadors - Dispatches by Michael Herr, The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin, and a whole load of Knut Hamsuns. I have quite a few of Julian Barnes's novels, but these don't seem to have been published by Picador - not in the editions I have, anyway. Others appear to have disappeared during my many moves in the past...Edit: Did someone write that Kathy Lette was published by Picador? I read one of hers, but - I'm afraid - it was terribly superficial...
Lljones wrote: "Wish me luck for tomorrow, everyone. I have to report for jury duty at 7:00 am. Somehow I've managed to avoid this before: I've only received the summons twice, and both times I was involved in som..."No idea about the rules in the US, just some thoughts.
Could you refuse to sit next to people not wearing masks? If you can't maybe you could kick up some fuss, demanding a written confirmation of your refusal with a covert threat to sue if you come to harm?
What would happen if you were unruly, say constantly trying to speak to other jurors, or comment proceedings with expletives starting with 'f'?
Would you just be reprimanded? And if you were dismissed: would you also be penalized?
Feigning a faint might be problematic. You will get some attention and if you do not respond somebody will call an ambulance...
Good luck!
@HP - thanks for your kind thoughts regarding sleep and the nose...I fear that at my age, sleep tips simply won't work. Once I am properly awake (for the reason I explained) it often happens that I can't get back again, so that a period downstairs watching some TV and then reading are needed... Last night, for example, I went to the loo at 03.30, back to bed - no go, got up at 4.15, watched and episode of 'Justified', read for a while - back to bed by around 05.30 and back to sleep until 07.30. That's a typical pattern , though the exact timings vary a lot.
As for the nose - a sort of comedy of errors (though it wasn't funny), with half the plastic surgeons hors de combat thanks to a back problem and a skiing accident... delayed things as the carcinoma grew, almost visibly, day by day. The brilliant guy who did, eventually, operate re-created a nose from forehead 'tissue' (as they call it), and it looks almost the same... Morriston Hospital is the plastic surgery centre in Wales, due to its proximity to the steelworks at Port Talbot.... All this did give me the opportunity to create a French pun, though: Est-ce que vous aimez mon nouveau ne(z)?... OK, not great, but I was pleased with it, and my friends were either amused, or polite enough to appear to be so!
GOOD BOOK DEED:I mentioned yesterday that i had discussed with an old lady at the day centre i volunteer at, that i would get her an Enid Blyton book to read, as she loved them when she was young
Walked into town just now and in the window of a charity shop, there were five 1950s hardbacks, all Blyton stories. Went in and purchased "The Island of Adventure", will give it to this lady next week. Apparently it was written in 1949, so she would have been 11 or 12
This is the edition i found:
RE:Sandya wrote: WRT Indians and arranged marriages - here's a tale from the international school in Paris where I taught in the 1980s (apologies if this is a repeat - can't remember).
There was a very attractive Indian girl taking her exams, who was caught cheating and so failed the whole lot (those were the rules, then)... I later heard that she had been told to do well, or she'd be sent back to India for an arranged marriage. I felt heart-sick for that girl.
Sorry I didn't respond-I have been travelling to AirVenture at Oshkosh.... But.
My Mother used to tell me "If you aren't a good girl, we will send you to India and marry you to an old man".
It was a terrifying threat to someone aged only 11 or 12. That poor girl probably figured cheating was the only way she could escape this fate. To be perfectly frank, what I was trying to avoid was having an Indian mother-in-law, not a husband.
About 30 of those Picadors on the shelves here, including, to my surprise, a 1985 collection of Raymond Carver stories, unread, with gushing reviews on the back.
My Oshkosh read.I am at AirVenture at Oshkosh through Friday and brought a book to read.
The Eldest Son. A life of the Marquess Wellesley, 1760-1842 by Iris Butler.
It is a biography of Wellington's elder brother, a Governor-General of India. I am enjoying it a lot and will review here when I have finished it. I am ~ 20% of the way through-it is 600 pages.
Machenbach wrote: "Nicholas Royle, White Spines: Confessions of a Book CollectorGiven the nature of this book, it’s perhaps fitting that the only book of Royle’s that I’ve previously read was picked..."
We never forget......
Eleanore Humphrey: When are you going to read and return my copy of JB Priestley's "Man & Time" that I lent you in 1982?
Tim Breen: A book on understanding the stock market and "The Vampire Lestat" by Anne Rice. You keep saying "I am going to read them" but that was in 1988......
Cynthia McFann: A very expensive decorating book that like a fool I lent you in the early 80s. Where is it and why won't you give it back even though your house is a dump?
My brother: Why do you refuse to return my HP Lovecraft hardbacks when I asked you to stash them when I moved to the US in 1981? I did not give them to you to keep. I have asked for them back many times.....
I no longer lend books after these hard lessons.
Good thread just opened over at The G, with comments enabled, on ‘bored teenagers’. I’ve just finished the first book on the list, The Member of the Wedding..
Here were my suggestions / recommendations.. some really good books here, in my humble opinion..
Wait Until Spring Bandini by John Fante
The Outsiders by SE Hinton
Agostino by Alberto Moravia
The Street Kids by Pier Paolo Pasolini
The Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet, bored teenagers on summer vacation, ignored by their parents..
Ham on Rye by Bukowski
The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurty
Childhood by Stuart Dybek
and, perhaps my favourite…The Proof by Cesar Aira
Machenbach wrote: "Andy wrote: "A Shock by Keith Ridgway."I'm about a third of the way through this (I haven't read anything of his previously). Like you I loved the first story or section, and have been losing pat..."
I think I found it a let down, as his first book was so good.
Try the short story The Spectacular if you get chance…
AB76 wrote: "Anne wrote: "Hushpuppy wrote: "Ugh, 15/100. But 5 from the top 10 (it would have been 3 out of 10 only a year ago). Maybe if the list was a bit less anglo-centric I'd have a few more ..."I tried ..."
I’ve just mentioned Agostino in another thread.. good it’s gets some deserved attention. The film is good also.
AB76 wrote: "so far Alby, The Red Collar is brilliant, a slow paced novel set around a disgraceful event, a faithful dog and the military investigator digging into the situation. Its a really top notch modern literary novel from Europa Editions."Great news, I'll move it from the bookcase to the stack next to the bed! My wife cruelly mocked the cover, which does look somewhat melodramatic, but I'll brave her scorn.
Andy wrote: "AB76 wrote: "Anne wrote: "Hushpuppy wrote: "Ugh, 15/100. But 5 from the top 10 (it would have been 3 out of 10 only a year ago). Maybe if the list was a bit less anglo-centric I'd have a few more ...."i've been a fan of Moravia for a good 15 years, i recommend "The Conformist" if you havent read it and of course "Boredom". Both are brilliant and started me on a journey through the rich seam of Italian literature
Machenbach wrote: "Most recently I bought Monsters by Barry Windsor-Smith from there for a mate who, it turned out, already had a copy. I'm not sure when, or if, I'll read it."I remember when Barry Smith (without the Windsor addition) showed up as a youngster in the pages of Marvel comics. I didn’t think his X-Men debut was very promising, but he quickly established himself as one of their more interesting and innovative artists. I left the fold about the time he started doing the Conan the Barbarian series, and haven’t followed his subsequent career, though I’ve seen occasional samples of his work. He’s evidently experienced some strange shit (see, for example, Mutants and Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal).
scarletnoir wrote: "Bill wrote: "scarletnoir wrote: "Hushpuppy wrote: "I was trying to think of other books with 'snow' in the title"...."
or, alternatively,[bookcover:The Stain On Th..."
AlbyBeliever wrote: "AB76 wrote: "so far Alby, The Red Collar is brilliant, a slow paced novel set around a disgraceful event, a faithful dog and the military investigator digging into the situation. Its a really top n..."i aim to finish it this week,
good move, the book will be calling you from the bedside stack!
Machenbach wrote: "There was considerable debate about the pishness of Snow when the G's Reading Group did it a few years back. I was quite firmly in the Yes it's Pish camp, 'though I'd previously enjoyed a couple of his novels. I think Flinty was more sympathetic, 'though I may be misremembering."Because I have an extremely rock and roll life, I've spent several hours looking through past RG discussions on books I've read. Like many of the others, I found the one on Snow really interesting - it didn't fundamentally alter my view on the novel (unlike, perhaps, the one on 'The Blue Flower'), but I love seeing how differently people interact with a book.
MB… unable to reply to your original post for some reason…snow in title, I needed my GR to prompt me.
A 5 star read for me was Moon of the Crusted Snow, which I was put onto by Tom at TLS,
Another 5 star read, Snow Falling on Cedars
Snow, 4 stars,
The Weight of Snow and Boy, Snow, Bird and When the Snow Fell.
Machenbach wrote: "Oh, and Josef Skvorecky was a Picador writer. I was very fond of him back then."I really enjoyed 'The Engineer of Human Souls' and thought 'The Miracle Game' was decent. Unsure which to read next; which ones were your favourites?
AB76 wrote: "Andy wrote: "AB76 wrote: "Anne wrote: "Hushpuppy wrote: "Ugh, 15/100. But 5 from the top 10 (it would have been 3 out of 10 only a year ago). Maybe if the list was a bit less anglo-centric I'd have..."Thanks AB.
Oggie wrote: "I also really enjoyed The Year of the Runaways...Ours are the Streets gave a truly empathetic account of how relentless racism and humiliation can lead to extreme acts.His first book A Story of a Brief Marriage set in a refugee camp during the civil war is so poignant and beautifully written I cannot imagine his next book will not be the same."
Three books I own and haven't read; that's the kind of literary feedback that helps my bank balance. Thanks, Oggie!
Sandya wrote: "My Mother used to tell me "If you aren't a good girl, we will send you to India and marry you to an old man".It was a terrifying threat to someone aged only 11 or 12. That poor girl probably figured cheating was the only way she could escape this fate."
I'm afraid that was the situation in which the poor girl found herself - she was (I think) reasonably bright, and almost certainly could have passed the exams with no cheating, but didn't want to risk it....
Anne wrote: "And an utterly random list of The 100 Greatest Beach Books Ever. If nothing else, you can count how many you've read (there's more variety there than you might think):https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/best-..."
I read this a few days ago, but just got around to totting up - I have read 22, including 4 of the top 10, and 10 of the top 20... 15 by men and 7 by women. I liked nearly all of that 22, with 'Gatsby' being the only definite let-down - it didn't work, for me.
AB76 wrote: "i've been a fan of Moravia for a good 15 years, i recommend "The Conformist" if you havent read it and of course "Boredom"."I've only read Le mépris by Moravia (Il disprezzo) and was left utterly depressed. I've watched Il conformista, with Trintignant, and again, lost faith in humanity for a while afterwards. It's all quite brilliant, but be warned!
Bill wrote (142): "Since I first posted about it, I’ve become addicted to the Marlon and Jake Read Dead People podcast. I’ve now listed to all but one episode (the first, since I’ve been going newest to oldest). Af..."
I have only listened to thre episodes so far: "Literary Grudge Match", "Dead Authors for a Desert Island" and "Good Books by Bad People".
Every one of them made me think, and reflect, and think again. And I don't care if one or the other completely demolishes a book, or an author, I hold in high regard. Rather the opposite.
As much as I love Dickens I was quite shocked about his views (and engagement) re the Morant Bay rebellion.
I am all for the slaughter of holy cows, whether they are mine or not
And Marlon James? In a world where more and more people (to avoid the w-word) are reducing everything to black and white (no pun intended) he will give you 28 shades of grey.
Mod
Lljones wrote: "Standing outside the courthouse, waiting for it to open. A man just approached me and said “If I go to trial I want you to be on my jury.”"Well, definitely a novel pick-up line! Your response?
Lljones wrote: "Standing outside the courthouse, waiting for it to open. A man just approached me and said “If I go to trial I want you to be on my jury.”"Good to see that there are still folks out there less capable than I am at flirting
Oggie wrote: "Sahota's Ours are the Streets gave a truly empathetic account of how relentless racism and humiliation can lead to extreme acts ..."
I'm glad you've reminded me that I haven't read Sahota's first novel. I'm going to read that instead of China Room. Also grateful to you for drawing my attention to Anuk Arudpragasan's A Passage North. This writer wasn't on my radar.
I'm glad you've reminded me that I haven't read Sahota's first novel. I'm going to read that instead of China Room. Also grateful to you for drawing my attention to Anuk Arudpragasan's A Passage North. This writer wasn't on my radar.
Hushpuppy wrote: "AB76 wrote: "i've been a fan of Moravia for a good 15 years, i recommend "The Conformist" if you havent read it and of course "Boredom"."I've only read Le mépris by Moravia (Il disprezzo) and was..."
he writes mostly dark, unsettling novels with a strong psychological content, defintely not reading that will warm the cockles of your heart!
AB76 wrote: "GOOD BOOK DEED:
I mentioned yesterday that i had discussed with an old lady at the day centre i volunteer at, that i would get her an Enid Blyton book to read, as she loved them when she was young
..."
That is a lovely follow-up to yesterday's story. Good looking edition too.
I mentioned yesterday that i had discussed with an old lady at the day centre i volunteer at, that i would get her an Enid Blyton book to read, as she loved them when she was young
..."
That is a lovely follow-up to yesterday's story. Good looking edition too.
Lljones wrote: "Standing outside the courthouse, waiting for it to open. A man just approached me and said “If I go to trial I want you to be on my jury.”"ROFL.....gosh
Anne wrote: "AB76 wrote: "GOOD BOOK DEED:I mentioned yesterday that i had discussed with an old lady at the day centre i volunteer at, that i would get her an Enid Blyton book to read, as she loved them when s..."
thanks Anne, i will up[date you all on the "Barbaras Blyton Reading" in a few weeks!
Its been good to see the physical progress of the old folk in 5 weeks since we re-opened. We run exercises mornings on Tues and Weds, all the clients have noticed easier movement and flexibility. Barbara could hardly stand up without her walker, now she is moving far better and even the fittest client(aged 83, 15 min walk to the centre for him, says he can get out of his chair so much easier now)
Hushpuppy wrote: "Misc (it's too late, sorry!)In the UK, I've got 3 Picadors: McCarthy (mustard spine), St Aubyn (dusty pink), Ondaatje (white!!); 2 Gallimards: Barberry, Pennac; 3 Editions de Minuit (my favourite..."
I'll stretch the spine color issue. For orange or green Penguins, many in so-so condition, head to Gower St. Waterstones where they have (or had the last time I was there) shelves set aside for each color. £5 each.
Nostalgia - having to decide whether to renew my passport just in case I can visit there and Norfolk next year.
scarletnoir wrote: "... 'Gatsby' being the only definite let-down - it didn't work, for me ..."
We're members of a very small club. I dislike The Great Gatsby too, but most of the world seems to love it. In my experience, anyway.
We're members of a very small club. I dislike The Great Gatsby too, but most of the world seems to love it. In my experience, anyway.
AlbyBeliever wrote: "Booker Prize Longlist... Also delighted to see Richard Powers on there - I loved 'The Overstory' so much that I sent him a gushing email; he sent a very gracious and kind reply ..."
Claire Armitstead was on last night's Front Row, Alby, saying that she wanted Powers to win this Booker because she felt so strongly that The Overstory was robbed of the Booker.
Claire Armitstead was on last night's Front Row, Alby, saying that she wanted Powers to win this Booker because she felt so strongly that The Overstory was robbed of the Booker.
AB76 wrote : he writes mostly dark, unsettling novels Not really. But I suspect that you arrived at that conclusion because only a small part of his work has been translated.
I can recommend his "Roman Tales".
AB76 wrote: "Anne wrote: "AB76 wrote: "GOOD BOOK DEED:I mentioned yesterday that i had discussed with an old lady at the day centre i volunteer at, that i would get her an Enid Blyton book to read, as she love..."
You have made me feel quite ancient AB!
First year at grammar school 1949/50 and I was asked to choose a book as a prize and I asked for that book. Didn’t get it but was given Puck of Pook’s Hill instead by Kipling which I still have unread.
Puck of Pook's Hill
Borrowed the Blyton adventure from the library.
Georg wrote: "AB76 wrote : he writes mostly dark, unsettling novels Not really. But I suspect that you arrived at that conclusion because only a small part of his work has been translated.
I can recommend his..."
i've read about seven of his novels,the translation % is very good and i havent found any light hearted or lighter mood novels yet. I guess you must have read the only ones that werent dark and unsettling! I love dark and unsettling novels
CCCubbon wrote: "AB76 wrote: "Anne wrote: "AB76 wrote: "GOOD BOOK DEED:I mentioned yesterday that i had discussed with an old lady at the day centre i volunteer at, that i would get her an Enid Blyton book to read..."
apologies CCC! you are not aincient!
giveusaclue wrote: "Anyone who has read The Mirror and the Light may find this interesting:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete..."
Thanks. I've shared the link with CJ Sansom members on FB.
The heck with the Mirror and Light! Read
. It's a great beginning to his historical mystery series.
Robert wrote: "AB76 wrote: "Lljones wrote: "Wish me luck for tomorrow, everyone. I have to report for jury duty at 7:00 am. Somehow I've managed to avoid this before: I've only received the summons twice, and bot..."I think there must be an age cut off, as I haven't been asked for some time (or a roll of the dice?)
It's really thought provoking as to what book to take to support rejection. The problem is - it would have to be on your shelves. Although one like Eric Foner's
might do in this day and age.
MK wrote: "It's really thought provoking as to what book to take to support rejection."With the assumption that the case would involve drugs, when my wife was called for jury duty I suggested she take along my copy of Thoroughly Ripped with the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers... and Fat Freddy's Cat!
Bill wrote: "MK wrote: "It's really thought provoking as to what book to take to support rejection."With the assumption that the case would involve drugs, when my wife was called for jury duty I suggested she..."
Yes, I think relying on rejection from the prosecution side would be the more successful way to go.
The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Final Days of Imperial Iran is a fasacinating and detailed study of the Pahlavi dynasty from 1950s to 1979.While i would like to feel sympathy for the Shah and how he lost out to a murderous scrimmage of mullahs in 1979, he always seems to get things wrong, there is a feeling he is constantly misjudging his "people" and mis-managing his greedy and enormous family. (the in laws, distant relatives all seem to be constantly on the take). Its enough to make a republican out of me!
The book is well stocked with sources and asides, though the steady presence of Queen Farah's reminisces makes it seem more like a soap opera. The brooding presence of Ayatollah Khomeini is a constant presence from the late 1950s, this austere cleric has many very good points to make about the Shah and his family but the fanatical zeal is unsettling even back then and he was not popular among the establishment clerics of Iran between 1955 until his exile.
Importantly Scott-Cooper focuses on the vital role of the clerical class (uluma) in Shia Islam and in particular in Iran. Shia Islam has a priestly hierarchy that Sunni Islam does not. While the Shah was never carelessly disrespectful to the clerics, he always needed to be careful with the Grand Ayatollahs (especially ones with the title of marja) and i feel he took them for granted. No suprise that the CIA feared a socialist uprising and didnt expect one backed by clerics!
* Marja is the most learned rank of the Iranian clerical class, it comes with immunity from arrest and a position almost as important as a Shah or leader of the state. Khomeini was never a fully recognised Marja in his time in Iran, until he became spiratual leader in 1979, but he was a well educated and well versed Grand Ayatollah .Interestingly current supreme leader Khamenei is not a qualified marja, though he claims it
Lljones wrote: "Standing outside the courthouse, waiting for it to open. A man just approached me and said “If I go to trial I want you to be on my jury.”"Love it - had he been charged with stalking? 🤣
19 months to go before I will be ineligible for jury service in the UK. 🤞
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Ersatz TLS
Books mentioned in this topic
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass (other topics)Is Nothing Sacred? (other topics)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (other topics)
Der Raubgraf (other topics)
Peter Pan (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Saša Stanišić (other topics)Cordwainer Smith (other topics)
Elsa Morante (other topics)
Elsa Morante (other topics)
Stephen Gregory (other topics)
More...
but really, any book can be read at any time can't it?"
Ah yes, that brings back m..."
Julius Caesar, the last play that I took part in , one of the crowd 1953 .
Julius Caesar text in Latin, 23 chapters for O level ( I’d left but went back for exams in 54) Luckily blessed with good memory so learned chunks/ key words from each chapter. Eng. Lit was
Mansfield Park, Paradise Lost, Richard ll